Recent viewings

[Jack]

Mine Games (2012) - some college kids go to a cabin out in the woods, and then they find an abandoned mine nearby so they have to explore that. There's some supernatural mumbo jumbo going on; the actress who explains most of it has such a thick accent I could barely understand anything she said. Kind of a cool plot actually, though you'll have to wait until you're halfway through the movie before that even starts. Problem is the characters - they're the most non-developed nobodies imaginable. When your most notable character is a drunken party guy, you've got problems. Still, the blond chick was pretty cute. 2.5/5 - assuming you don't turn it off before the plot even starts.

[Rev. Powell]

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) - watched the colorized Blu ray version (hope I didn't dilute the creator's artistic intentions). Ah what can you say, hilarious sets, terrible acting, supremely stupid plot. Stupid, stupid humans!!! 3/5.

So hard to rate: you could give it 5/5 or 1/5 and I would totally understand either score. I see you split the difference.

THE WIZARD OF GORE (1970): Montag the Magician runs a grand guignol act where he appears to chop volunteers up onstage before viewers' eyes; they return to their seats unharmed, but then die of the same injuries later that night. Incompetently made as a vehicle for cheesy gore set pieces (decapitation, drill press through torso, etc.). Even H.G. Lewis fans usually don't talk this one up much. 1.5/5.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Carrie" (2013)

Carrie (2013) - Trailer #1 : Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore

The 21st century update of the Stephen King story still packs a decent punch.  Chloe Grace Moretz is great as the troubled telekinetic teen, and Julianne Moore's portrayal of Carrie's religious nut Mom is even scarier than Piper Laurie's take on the same character in the 1976 version.
A lot of remakes suck but this one was actually pretty damn good.

[retrorussell]

Speaking of remakes, I just saw the Evil Dead (2013).  Not bad, about on par or maybe a bit better than the original (of course, nowhere near the awesomeness of Part II).

[FatFreddysCat]

"Bait" (aka "Bait 3D," 2012)

Bait 3D Official Red Band Trailer #1 (2012) - Shark Movie HD

A far-fetched but fun Aussie thriller that combines the disaster-film and creature-feature genres. A massive tidal wave traps a group of people inside a flooded supermarket, and if that didn't suck enough, there's a hungry Great White shark in the store with them. Watery, toothy mayhem ensues as the shoppers try to plot their escape without becoming Shark Chow. A solid B-Movie!

[FatFreddysCat]

"Arachnoquake" (2012)

Arachnoquake Official Trailer (2012)

An earthquake caused by natural gas "fracking" unleashes a horde of giant, subterranean fire breathing spiders (yes, really) that descend on New Orleans, and it's up to Tracey "Carol Seaver from Growing Pains" Gold to stop them. Yet another cheesily charming tongue-in-cheek SyFy movie from the director of the far superior "Ghost Shark."

[FatFreddysCat]

"Triple Dog" (2010)
 

Triple Dog Trailer

A gang of slumber partying teen girls play a "Truth or Dare" style game that gets quickly out of hand. The trailer makes this one look like a horror/thriller, but it's just a disappointingly girly drama, worthy of the Lifetime network. Nice performances by the young cast 'n all, it's just not "my" kind of movie.

[lester1/2jr]

Insidious 2 - There's a lot to like about this sequel but man it is really monotonous and oppressive. Every scene is the same, it's like the last 15 minutes of the last movie for an hour and a half. I liked the new character of the other ghost hunter guy and the two assistants provide some badly needed comedy relief but the overall effect was of just too much tension and not enough ...everything else.  3/5

[Jack]

Creepozoids (1987) - watched this for about the sixth time. A group of post-apocalyptic military deserters (including Linnea Quigley who can't seem to keep her clothes on) take shelter in a large building, but of course there's a Creepozoid running around, along with some rat puppets that the actors hold up to themselves to simulate attacks lol. Pretty enjoyable cheesy nonsense, except for the "climax" which drags on way too long and put me sound asleep. 3.5/5.

[indianasmith]

Let's see . . . this week I watched:

GLADIATOR with my world history class - a gorgeously done, if highly fictionalized, slice of ancient Roman politics, love, and revenge, dished out by Russell Crowe at his most Russell Crowish.  LOVE this movie!!

THE CROSSING with my U.S. History class - Jeff Daniels plays a very credible George Washington, trying to turn the tide of the Revolutionary War as his army disintegrates around him.  A remarkable supporting role by one of my favorite character actors, Sebastian Roche. Great American history film, and one of the more accurate movies ever made about the Revolution.

NEVERLAKE - a glacially paced Italian horror film about a lake full of idols, a hospital full of crippled children, a doctor with a deadly secret, and a naïve 16 year old daughter trying to find out what it is.  Tolerable if you are patient, but don't go into it looking for blood, gore, or boobs.

SEE NO EVIL 2 - Some huge WWE dude is back as a huge serial killer, warped by a sadistic fundamentalist mom, slaughtering his way through a group of twentysomethings who are trying to hold a birthday party in the County Morgue.  He goes through them like a buzzsaw and there are no survivors. Somewhat tedious, with some decent kills.

MALEFICENT - The other side of the story of Sleeping Beauty, from the perspective of the "evil" fairy who cursed her.  This was a lot better than I expected it to be, and my wife and I both enjoyed it immensely.

[claws]

Hot T-Shirts (1980)

Two guys own a Bar, but for some reason its not making any money. One day they decide to spice up things by holding wet t-shirt contests. Business is suddenly blooming but a group of enraged citizens are picketing the event.
Low brow comedy from the legendary Cannon Group studios. This was very low budget with a sorry excuse for a plot. It's all about girls in wet shirts flashing boobs while dancing to disco music. None of the characters stood out except for former Penthouse Pet Corinne Alphen who only had a minor part



She's very charismatic and radiant, making the rest of the cast appear dull by default. What else did Hot T-Shirts had to offer? Not much: cheerleader practice scene, guys at school forcefully holding and putting water on female students (that would be a lawsuit these days), one lame attempt at slapstick (barroom brawl) and one detective dressed like John Travolta's Saturday Night Fever character. 2.75/5

[indianasmith]

Last night I watched LEPRECHAUN: ORIGINS - a group of American college students are traveling though the Irish countryside.  One of them is a history major and is interested in ancient Celtic artifacts; they come to a tiny, out of the way village where they are told of a remarkable set of relics near a local cave.  A helpful local offers to guide them to a cabin where they can spend the night and make the seven hour hike to the cave the next day.  They agree, but then they find themselves locked in the cabin, pursued by a hideous "little person" that seems intent on taking their lives.
    Definitely not an installment in the traditional franchise, this one is pretty good overall.  The weakness was the characters - they were totally one dimensional.  But the leprechaun was cool and the kills appropriately gruesome.

[lester1/2jr]

Wind Chill - prod. by George Clooney aka the Cloonmeister. Great acting, intriguing story too bad it's not the slightest bit scary. That's it. It appears no one involved had any experience making horror films 2/5

[Trevor]

John Carter: I got through ten minutes of it and switched it off. 

[claws]

Twirl (1981)

Young women from all over the country gather in a small Texas town for the Miss Twirl, U.S.A. competition. Two local girls, Bonnie Lee and Jill, best friends since forever are also competing but their parents turn them into rivals.
Girls (Heather Locklear and Jamie Rose in early roles) in skimpy outfits twirling batons - this made for TV movie wasn't too bad actually. Erin Moran who plays 17 year old Bonnie Lee was actually 21 years old during the shoot, but looks like 31. Tough sell when she was hugging her father lol. Besides that you'll get a slutty mom with alcohol problems sleeping with one of the judges, a father pushing his daughter to the limits, a secretly pregnant majorette loosing her unborn child during twirling practice, majorette making out in van and girls singing Hall & Oates "Kiss on my List". 4/5